Infrared proximity detector device for flying missile and detector assembly for autorotating missile including such device

Abstract

A proximity detector device comprises a lens placed at the front of the missile, two circular infrared detectors of different radii centered on the optical axis of the lens and disposed in its focal plane. An electronic circuit is connected to the detectors for delivering a proximity signal when the time slot separating two pulses emitted by the two detectors is less than a predetermined threshold. The explosion of the missile is controlled by the proximity pulse.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Proximity detector device for a flying missile aimed at a target, sensitive to the infrared radiation emitted by the target, characterized in that it comprises a lens placed at the front of the missile, two circular infrared detectors of different radii centred on the optical axis of the lens and disposed in its focal plane, and an electronic circuit connected to the outputs of the detectors and delivering a proximity signal when the time slot separating two pulses emitted respectively by the two detectors is less than a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       2. Detector assembly for missile flying in autorotation, characterized in that it comprises the proximity detector device of claim 1 and an angular deviation detector device comprising at least one infrared detector placed in the central zone defined by the proximity detector of smaller radius, and designed to be intersected at least twice by circles centred on the axis of rotation of the missile.